Page 194 - La Société canadienne d'histoire de l'Église catholique - Rapport 1961

190 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.

a fire. When the other conveyance came up, I went to see
the doctor, took the robes off, and found him completely
chilled through, and could not speak. We took him out of the
sleigh, carried him to the fire, and rubbed him a long time
before he could speak. I had a little brandy with me; he
drank some of that, and after a while he was able to walk,
when we again started for the Fort. When we arrived at the
Fort, as we did without further mishap, we found that the
thermometer stood thirty-two degrees below zero. I did not
suffer at all with the cold, as I ran the most of the way.
The next day I left alone for Green Bay. There was not
then a house between Fort Winnebago and Fond du Lac; the
snow was deep across the prairies. I overtook two Stock-
bridge Indians nearly exhausted from fatigue and cold. I
carried them in my jumper to the first timber, when we
stopped and made a large fire, and left them. The snow was
SO deep, that my horse could not draw them. They staid there
until the next day, and got home safe. If it had not been for
me, they would undoubtedly have perished on the prairie. I
arrived at Green Bay safe and sound. There was then but
one house between Fond du Lac and Green Bay.
In June, 1838, the Territorial Legislature again met at
Burlington. We had a short session, commencing on the llth,
and closing on the 25th of June. During the session we
received the news that Iowa had been separated from Wiscon-
sin, and formed into a distinct Territory; and as soon as this
intelligence reached us, we adjourned to meet at Madison in
the autumn. While at Burlington, Gov. DODGE appointed me
Commissary General, with the rank of Colonel-that was,
perhaps, the first military commission issued in Wisconsin; I
still retain it as a memento of the ol.den time.
The next Legislature met, for the first time, in Madison, on
the 26th of November, 1838. The new capital edifice was not
yet in a suitable condition to receive the Legislature; ao we
had to assemble in the basement of the old American Hause,
where Gov. DODGE delivered his first message at the new seat